About 'Circles of Life'
'Life on the Little Frisco ' river
'Life on the Little Frisco ' river
'Life on the Little Frisco ' river
The Circles-of-Life epic tour is a series of three hour-and-a-half leisurely bicycle tours highlighting the history of Lucile Packard Childrens' Hospital. By extension they tell the histories of Stanford University, Palo Alto, and Silicon Valley.
'For the Chidlren of California'
'Life on the Little Frisco ' river
'Life on the Little Frisco ' river
Each of the tours is focused on one-third of a collection of 365 historical pictures. Each tour stop is accompanied by a series of pictures illustrating the unfolding story. The tag line of the tours is: 'Four Women, a House, and a Supernova'.
'Circles of Life'
'Life on the Little Frisco ' river
'Circles of Life'
In addition to the three picture-tours, there is a 'grand-rounds' narrated e-bike tour that summarizes them and inter-weaves them with a history tour of Palo Alto. All the tours conclude with a snack that highlights an essential aspect of that tour.
Welcome to Circles of Life
Allied Arts Guild
All four tours proceed from garden to garden. The successive gardens complement the corresponding picture-histories and narratives. The three bicycle tours follow seperate loops adjacent to the Children's Hospital. The stops of all four tours are often where events in the story actually happened!
California Garden
The bicycle and e-bike tours are currently free while they are iin a 'dress-rehearsal' testing phase. Several bicycles and helmets are available for guests on the bicycle tours, however guests are encouraged to bring their own bikes and helmets. The number of e-bikes is currently limited so guests will need to confirm availability in advance.
From the Bay to the Mountains
In addition to a final snack, each of the pedal-bike tours includes an additional snack or two intended to accentuate the tour. Optional vegetarian/non-lactose alternatives to the snacks are provided.
If interested participants are unable to ride bicycles, on-site hospital walking/wheelchair tours can be considered. (Note: The pictures in the introductory photo gallery are from inside the Childrens' Hospital.)
Coastanoan Indian Campground
And now for the fun part.....'Pirates, True Love, Murder, Gold, and Vitamin C....
The first 'chapter' of the tours is 'Life on the 'Little Frisco' creek. It covers the period from 1492 to 1884, with emphasis on the life of Leland Stanford Jr..
The Mansion that Never Was
The second 'chapter' is 'For the Children of California', It chronicles the early years of Stanford U, from 1884 to 1919.
Past-Ur-Eyes Plaza
The third 'chapter', 'Circles of Life', outlines the history of the Children's Hospital (and Sliicon Valley) from 1919 to the present.
Ronald McDonald Way
The three bicycle tours start and end at the 'Center of Academic Medicine' courtyard across the street from the Children's Hospital. Parking is avaiilable at the Stanford Mall a block away.
The e-bike tour starts and ends in the courtyard of the Palo Alto History Museum.
Stanford Hospital Roof Garden
Currently the tours are being held from 3:00PM to 4:30PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays between March and November. However, during the 'dress rehearsal' period, if any group of three or more guests would like to come on one of the tour 'chapters', another time can be arranged. The maximum tour group size is ten persons- (with two picture-books being displayed simultaneously).
Arizona Cactus Garden
Children are welcome on either the bicycle tours or e-biketour, however please be advised that there are some sad and possibly frightening descriptions during the tour. (On walking tours inside the hospital D-word' topics- like 'death' and 'despair'- are omitted).
Rock Creek Garden
The pedal-bike tours are led by an 'interpretive ranger' who rides the 'Red Hare' bicycle,- a bike-plus-trailer named after the legendary Chinese war horse. The trailer supports a tripod for displaying pictures. It also contains props, such as 'gold' nuggets, and snacks,
In Service of the new Palo Alto Museum?
There are several stops on the bicycle tours that entail a brief walk on dirt or climbing stairs, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
Based on the results and feedback of the 'dress rehearsals' of the tour, a possible ultimate use for the tour could be to help fund the operation of the new Palo Alto Museum that is currently under development.
'Red Hare' Bicycle
The bicycle tour is a totally independent initiative from Stanford Children's Hospital and is in no way associated with the Children's hospital. Guests will be asked to sign a waiver acknowledging they understand that.
We hope to see you soon one of the gardens-and-pictures tours.